Bermuda takes its name from the Spanish sea captain Juan de Bermúdez, who first sighted the uninhabited islands in the early 16th Century; however, it wasn't until 1609 that the island was settled, when Admiral Sir George Somers, sailing from England to Jamestown, Virginia, was shipwrecked off its coast and decided to stay.

Although Admiral Somers built replacement ships and sailed off, he left some of his crew behind to establish a British claim to the island. He returned later that same year but died soon after arrival. The British renamed Bermuda the Somers Islands in honor of the admiral, but the name failed to stick.

Bermuda is 21 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. Tourism to the island first developed during the Victorian era, with vacationers escaping the North American winters. In the early 20th century, Bermuda's tourism industry began to thrive and Bermuda became a popular destination for wealthy U.S., Canadian and British tourists. Currently Bermuda's population sits at approximately 65,000 people, all of whom are known world wide for their hospitable and welcoming attitude. This, among many other wonderful qualities, is what draws people to our beautiful island. Although tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center.

Over 300 international companies, attracted by limited taxation and good infrastructure, have established physical offshore operations in Bermuda. These include reinsurance companies, investment companies and mutual fund institutions. There are a further 11,000 companies registered in Bermuda with no physical presence. Irrespective of their location, all of these companies make a significant contribution to Bermuda's economy.

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